'5 This saint is mentioned at the present day, in the
anonymous
list of Irish Saints published
by O'Sullivan Beare.
by O'Sullivan Beare.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
In such passages, we find no punishments distinct from those of purgatory.
Secondly, the word "infer- nus," is frequently used to designate a sub-
often intended to signify punishment to be endured in a place under earth. Not to mention many passages from Holy Scrip-
First,
in another of St. Ita's copy
says, regarding Christ,
terranean and " infemalis" is place; poena
A similar
is still retained in one of the prayers of the
'
Libera Domine ani- mas omnium fidelium defimctorum de pcenis
is dead alas My uncle, your father, ;
!
for his
transgres-
by the
name of
purgatory.
phrase
Mass for the Dead :
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 213
offerings this year, and then return once more to me. " They accordingly
obeyed her instructions, and on their visiting Ita again, she said : "Your father is now released from the pains of purgatory ; but he is yet without clothing, because he gave no garments to the poor, in Christ's name ;7 there- fore, give ye alms in clothing that he may be clad. " They again distributed gifts in the manner pointed out for another year. Then returning once more to their cousin, she said, "Your father now enjoys rest, through your alms and my prayers, but especially through God's mercy. Therefore, do you refrain from unlawful desires of the world and its concupiscence, for which your father has suffered. " Giving thanks to God, and to His servant, Ita, they returned to their own country. ^
One day, our saint desired some of her nuns to go forth from the
enclosure, and bring her word regarding two men, who were on their way to visithernunnery. Doingastheywereordered,thesenunsbroughtbackintel- ligence, that two brothers of the neighbourhood, well known to them, were
murder the other. " This event happened in accordance with the saint's pre-
diction, whereupon, the culprit was brought before the chieftain of Hy- Connaill, to receive judgment due to his crime. Being condemned to death, and considering the affliction into which his mother must be plunged by the double loss of her two sons, St. Ita resolved on exerting her influence with the chief, to effect a respite for the malefactor. This mediatorship she assumed, through the double motive of affording consolation to the parent of the unfortunate criminal, and of giving the fratricide an opportunity for doing penance. Thechieftainwasmovedbyourholyvirgin'sentreatiesonbehalf of this guilty young man, and he was restored to liberty. However, lest any damage should afterwards take place, through this extended clemency, the chief declared that to St. Ita must be imputed its occurrence. He recom- mended her, moreover, to induce the murderer to expiate his crime by prac- tising a rigorous course of penance. Ita returned for answer, that although his repentance might be deferred for a while, yet it must certainly take place ; and as she desired, that the criminal's repentance should rather be voluntary on his part than a result of coercion, the servant of God waited in patience and hope for his conversion. Although, for a time delayed, her expectations were finally crowned ; and her patience was amply rewarded by the total change of heart which tranquillized the mind of this unhappy man. 9
inferni, et de profundo lacu,' &c. I need the grave. " See " Ecclesiastical History of
a
grief shall shortly oppress me and them, for one of these brothers shall
coming. Fetching
deep sigh,
the abbess
said,
! woe,
to these
men,
not tell the reader that the i«;^r«Mj or in-
"
Ireland, vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sec. ii. , n. 11,
fernalibus in the now quoted passages do
not refer to the hell of the damned, out of
which the Church never expected any de-
liverance. This manner of speaking was
used in consequence of an opinion held by
many theologians, that not only the devils
and the damned, but likewise the souls in
a state of purgation are confined in subter-
raneous regions, yet with this difference,
that the former are kept in its lowermost
and deepest parts, while the place for the
latter, although contiguous to it, is supposed
to be higher up (See Bellarmin De Purga-
torio, lib. 2, cap. 6). But, as this place pp. 69, 70.
was still considered as under the earth, the name infernus, which signifies a lower re-
gion or tract, was often applied to it, in the same manner as it has been used also for
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Woe
pp. 86, 87.
^ " This means that, although he was freed
from the purgatorial sufferings, yet his soul was not as yet in a state fit for enjoying the beatific vision and that heavenly clothing, of which St. Paul says, 2 Cor. , v. 2: We groan, desiring to be clothed over with our habitation, which is from heaven. " Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sec. ii. , n. 12, p.
87. *"
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itae, cap. xxvi. ,
' See
nias," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxix. , p. 70.
Colgan's
214 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 15.
CHAPTER V.
VICTORY OBTAINED BY THE HY-CONNAILL CLAN THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF ST. ITA— HER MERCIFUL OFFICES TOWARDS A PENITENT—ST. ITA'S BODILY AFFLICTION— HER LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—LOCAL AND GENERAL COMMEMORATION—HER INTIMACY WITH MANY IRISH SAINTS—CONCLUSION.
Sometime after these occurrences, a great war' was waged against the Hy- Connaillpeople,byhabitantsfromthewesternpartofMunster. TheHy- Connaill sept, being numerically inferior to their enemies, had recourse to St. Ita, who addressed her prayers to heaven, and to the adorable and undivided Trinity, that her clients might receive succour from above, in the unequal conflict, and from which, in all human probability, they could not hope to escape with success. A small army, they were able to muster, went forth with confidence, founded on the prayers and intercession of their saintly patron ; and, having encountered an overwhelming force opposed to them, they fought with desperate resolution, until victory finally inclined to their side. The enemy was routed with great slaughter ; and the sept of Hy- Connaill returned from the battle-field, full of gratitude to God and to their patron saint, for that glorious victory they obtained. It would appear, that St. Ita exhorted her people to do penance for their sins, before joining in battle array. But at least one among their number, although he promised repentance, did not redeem this pledge. Therefore our saint desired him to
be conducted to her presence. According to a description given by the abbess to her messengers, this man was found wounded after the battle, having being engaged in the foremost ranks. When brought before Ita, he was kindly received, and healed of his wounds through her intercession. Afterwards, he brought forth fruits worthy of penance, and departed to the rest of an immortal life. ^
Once upon a time, St. Ita said to her spiritual daughters, in a spirit of
prophecy :
" At this
moment one of our
has lost her soul
very
therefore, and inquire which one among us has become a prey to the ravening
wolf. " But they were unable to discover this offender. St. Ita ordered them
to appear collectively in her presence. Being questioned on the matter, all deniedtheirknowledgeorconsciousnessofthisimputedcrime. Thatperson who had sinned denied her guilt wath the rest. Then St. Ita told her, she had deeply offended God on that day ; and, because she had not confessed her crime, or repented its commission, she should be dismissed ^vith shame
and reproach. This guilty person, wandering about through many places, at lengthbecameaslaveorservanttoacertainmagician,inConnaught. The
Chap. v. —'This, in all probability, was the event thus recorded in O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
of Hy-Figente and the Corcoiche sept. The Hy-Figente derived their name from Fiach Figente, and they occupied that plain of
" The
battle of Cuilne, in which rtiany of the
184, 185.
mountain, in Kerry to the southern bank of the
Age
of The Christ, 546.
from Luachra
**
Corcoiche were slain through the prayers Shannon. See Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap.
of [St. ] Ita, of Cluain-Creadhail. " Mr. Ixxxi. , p. 381. The battle of Cuilne is
O'Donovan says, he was unable to identify Cuilne ; but of the Corcoiche, he remarks that they were a Ui-Fidhgente sept, located
placed five years later, in the " Annals of Ulster," than in those of the Four Masters,
" A. D. 551, Bellum Cuilne,
in the present county of Limerick, and in
the barony of Lower Connello. After the establishment of surnames, O'Macassy was chieftain over this sept. Seeidid. , nn. (i. k. ),
p. 184. O'Flaherty describes the country p. 70,
family
; go,
Munster, extending
We there read
in quo ceciderunt Corcu Oche Muman, ora- tionibus Itce Cluana. "
:
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- n\x," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxx. ,
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 215
abbess knowing her condition told her sisters in religion, that were she to regain her liberty once more, she should atone for past offences. Ita then
sent messengers to St. Brendan, to request his influence in obtaining from the KingofConnaughtfreedomforthiswretchedvassal. Herobjectwasatlength effected. This unfortunate creature and her daughter were sent back to the abbess,bySt. Brendan. Bothwerereceivedwithcompassion,andevenwith joy by our saint. They remained in Ita's nunnery ; the mother subjecting herselftoarigorouscourseofpenance. Afterwardssheperseveredinablame- less course of life, until the day of her death. 3
St. Ita is said to have suffered a great bodily affliction, which she carefully concealed from the knowledge of others. A sort of worm, called a Daol,^ preyed upon her side, and at last it grew to a large size. This continued for a long time, so that the holy woman suffered a continuous martyrdom.
"
Moreover, Cuimin of Coindeire states, in the poemS which begins, her cheek or her face to rest. Thus he says,
Patrick, of the city of Macha, loved ;" that for love of the Lord, she never laid down
" Mide loved great nursing,
Great humility without ambition ;
Her cheek on the pillow she never laid, From love of the Lord," &c.
Having now attained an extreme old age, the holy abbess called her daughters around her, and told them in a calm manner that the term of her
sojourn in life was nearly accomplished. Before this period, however, had arrived, St. Macnessius^ of Clonmacnoise despatched messengers to her with word that his predecessor, and the friend of our saint, had requested her to send some holy water. Having complied with this request, she desired the messengers to return, and that they should find her living ; but before their next arrival at Clonmacnoise, she declared that the Abbot Eneas should have departed this life. ? Shortly after such occurrence, she was seized wdth her last illness. No sooner had the news of her infirmity gone abroad, than many holy persons of both sexes flocked to her nunnery, expecting to witness the happy termination of her labours and virtues. ^ Before her departure, she invoked a blessing on the clergy and people of Hy-Connaill, who adopted her as their patron saint. There, with devout aspirations towards the Holy Trinity, her soul passed out of this world, to rejoice for ever before God's throne, in company with the saints and angels. 9
The body of our saint was deposited in that place she had chosen for her earthlyhabitation. AfterasolemncelebrationoftheholySacrificeofMass,^°
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
3 See
Colgan's
nise," XV. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxxi. , p. 70. The incidents related in this chap- ter seem only a more detailed account re- garding what we read in the fourteenth chapter of St. Ita's life.
< In a note at this place Dr. Todd says,
" The word Daol is explained a cockchafer, a leech. " Colgan renders it "Vermis. "
5 In a note l3r. Todd says, "This poem
His feast was on the kept
which is frequently quoted by our author,
has been printed with a translation by
Mr. Curry, in the late Rev. Matthew Kelly's
Calendar of Irish Saints, p. i6o. The niae," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxxii. , editor, however, does not state from what
manuscript he has copied. "
'°
This is an early instance of a Requiem Mass having been celebrated in the Irish Church.
*
of St. ^nguss or Eneas, Abbot of Clon-
This saint was the immediate successor
macnoise.
January.
^ It is yet a practice, in the primitive
mountainous and insular parts, where Celtic customs most prevail, for neighbours to as- semble in groups, when the death of an adult is expected in any particular house. For many days before the sick person's de- cease, they recite prayers in Irish for a happy departure.
"
^ See Colgan's xxxiii. , pp. 70, 71.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
13th See notices of him at that day.
of June.
^ See notices of him at the 20th day of
2i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
according to her previous directions, her sacred remains were committed to earth. The ancient author of her hfe assures us, that a great concourse of peoplewaspresentattheseoffices; whileinnumerablemiraclestookplaceat that time, and on future occasions, to the period when his interesting record ofheractshadbeencomposed. " St. Itadepartedthislifeonthe15thday of January. The different Martyrologies of ^ngus the Culdee," as also the Commentator on his works, Marianus O'Gorman, the Calendars of Tallagh,'3 Salisbury, and Donegal,'^ agree in assigning St. Ita's feast to that date. In like manner, the Circle of the Seasons has her commemorated.
'5 This saint is mentioned at the present day, in the anonymous list of Irish Saints published
by O'Sullivan Beare. '^ The year of her death has been generally assigned to A. D. 569. ^7 At Killeedy she has been constantly venerated. On the 15th of eachrecurringJanuary,thefaithfulof thisremoteparishbecomerejoicedand gladdened at the grandeur and solemnity of ceremonies prepared for them. They are invited to dilate their hearts, and to contemplate, not only the dazzling brilliancy of Him, in whom there is neither change nor shadow of alteration, but also the exceeding great honour of a saint once a pilgrim and sojourner here below, but now crowned with a diadem of unfading lustre. The author of her life remarks, that many of her actions were unrecorded by him ; of those he had given, some are omitted in the present narrative, and those in which her name occurs, conjointly with other saints, will be found distributed in different other pages of this work.
This holy virgin was formerly held in great veneration by our ancestors ; not alone on account of her own sanctity, but because of virtues implanted in those religious persons who were imder her direction and training. Be- sides her sister, St. Fina, and other pious women, Ita taught the principles of religion in early youth, to those holy confessors, the famous St. Brendan, styled the Navigator, on account of his seven years' voyage on the Atlantic, to St. Pulcherius, already mentioned in her life, and to St. Cuminens, Bishop of Clonfert. This holy woman was not only venerated in Cluain-Credhail, or KilladyChurch,andthroughoutthewholeterritoryofHy-Connaill; butlike- wise in a place called Rosmide, in her native country of the Desies. Also, the parish of Kilmeedy, in the barony of Upper Connello, in the county of
" the Church of Mide and of course it derived name ;"'^
Limerick, signifies
from the celebrated virgin of Kileedy. There are no ruins visible in this parish,'9 but the Protestant church appears to have been built within the old
" See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise,"XV. Januarii. VitaS. Itse,cap. xxxiii. , p. 71.
copy of the Tallagh Martyrology we read,
Ooi\micAcio1CAeA^uf•piuoi]\UTnCAi|\p|\e. 'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
16, 17. In the table appended, we are in- formed that there was a holiday to her in the parish of Cill-Ide,in the diocese of Limerick.
See ibid. , pp. 438, 429.
" The following extract from the Felire,
and its English translation, have been fur- nished by Professor O'Loouey :
A xtiiii. kl.
Vo^Ai-o mop n-ju^A h-^aLap CA]\Aif mof C|\oin ci\eT3An tn 5]\iAn b<in mutriAn
Ice cluAriA Ci\et)AiL
'^ At
A xviii. kl. "She endured much painful dis- ease
See HistoriaeCatholicseIbemieeCom- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49.
'^ At 569, we find the following record j
"St. Ite, virgin, of Cluain-Creadhail, died
p. 15. *® "
on the 15th of January, she was also called She loved the great heavy Mide. " And on this passage, Mr. O'Dono-
tertian fasts
The radiant sun of Munster's
women
Ite of Cluain Credail. "
'3Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. Likewise at this date, in the Franciscan
van remarks: "The churches called Kil- meedy, in Munster, are named after this virgin. " See"AnnalsoftheFourMasters," vol. i. , pp. 206, 207, and note (g), p. 206.
'^i^iHshCiUmit)e.
'»The "Liber Regalis Visitationis,"
January 15. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
^°
other in the south of Ireland, seem to places, especially
Many
have been dedicated to her memory.
graveyard.
Several of the Irish Saints, celebrated in our records, were her contem- poraries ; and in the relation of their actions, the virtues and acts of St. Ita are likewise commemorated. Thus was she intimate with the holy Abbot
"^^ Comgan,""^withSt. BrendantheNavigator, withSt. Luchtigemus,^3y/ithSt.
Lasreanus,^* not to mention others of her holy relatives,''5 and persons who have been noticed in the preceding pages. So great was her renown, that Ita
had been affectionately styled the Brigid of Munster. And justly was she so-called, for Ita continued in her own province the glorious promotion of female sanctification, which the wonder-v*-orking Abbess of Kildare had in- augurated for the whole of Ireland.
The holy woman Ita suffered a meritorious martyrdom for God ; in the sense, that she bore with great patience a bodily affliction in the most re- signed and exemplary spirit. She loved mortification and self-denial. She was the refuge and solace of sinners ; ever compassionate towards the erring,
and ever charitably disposed towards the poor. May her memory then be in
perpetual benediction among the lowly and humble, as among the high-born and penitent, who implore her intercession. May the inhabitants of her parish and district never forget her admirable character, and her constant patronage over them, that so they may pay her deserved tributes of affection and grateful reverence on every recurring day of her festival.
Article II. —St. Critan, Criotan, or Finncridan, of Craib- HAIGH, OR Crebee. To determine the age or place of this saint seems a matterofsomedifficulty,ifnotofactualimpossibility; becausesomanynames of saints^ agree with his, and so many denominations^ of places accord with the locality which has been assigned to him. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 a festival in honour of Finncridan of Craibhigh, is set down at the 15th of
prefix, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find simply entered, Critan, of Crebee. ^ The reader is referred to the notice of St. Dalua, of
or "
"
having reference to the colour of his hair or complexion. Without such a
January.
The
prefix
Finn,"
Fine," relating
to " seems as fairness,"
which places Kihueely, alias Kilmureely (for Kihneedy) in the Deanery of Rathkeale, reports the living as valueless.
i6th of September ; at the i6th of October ; at the i8th of November ; and at the 13th of December.
^°" ^ See Letters containing Information
Over one hundred places, having con-
Relative to the Antiquities of the County of Limerick, Collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. , pp. 163, 164.
nexion with Creevy, simply, or in composi- tion, are named among the Irish townlands.
Dr. P. W. Joyce writes to state, that Cruagh, near Killikee, county of Dublin, is the same as C|\AebAc, "a bushy" or "a branchy place. "
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. In
the Franciscan copy we read pnT)ch]MCAn
Ci\ibij;e.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 17. ^ At this word, as we learn in a note to the
family line, are tabulated with their genca-
fogies given in Colgan's "Appendix ad has added here in Roman characters, "Mar.
^' ''^
See his Acts at the 27th of February.
See his Life at the i6th of May.
^3 See notices of this saint at the 28th of
April.
^* See an account of him at the 25th day
of October.
=5 The Decies Saints, belonging to Ita's
Acta S. Ita;," cap. ii. , p. 73.
Art. II. — 'Thus besides the present saint,
(/. t'. . the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman) Adventus filiarum Carbrci (Addit M. Taml. Dormitatio ItcoK [read Itoe], ct filiarum Car-
venerated on this day, we have a St. Critan
er Criotan, commemorated at the 7lh of brei). " The meaning is, that Marianus
"
17th of May ; at the 25th of July ; at the the daughters of Carbrc" (cecc ingen caitd
February
;
one respectively at the nth and O'Gorman adds at this day,
the coming of
published "Martyrology,"amorereccnthand
2l8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
Dun-tighe-Bretan,^ for some allusion to the county of Dublin parish, known as Cruagh or Creevy. This seems to have been the site for an ancient reli- gious establishment from a remote period ; for in the year 1184, Prince John granted Cruagh, with its church, to the See of Dublin, and its subsequent
history is interesting. ? An old graveyard, lately enclosed, and by order of the poor-law authorities disused for interments, is to be seen, embowered with trees, growing around and within the area. ^ Within it stood the antique church, surrounded by the graves and tombs of the dead. It cannot be asserted, however, with any degree of certainty, that the present Creevy is the place specially connected with this saint's veneration. Still a few descrip-
tive particulars regarding it may prove interesting to the antiquarj'. The old church measured 34 feet in length interiorly, while it was less than 20 feet in breadth interiorly. At present only a few fragments remain. It was built of rough granite stones. In the fragments remaining the east wall shows
Ruins of Cruagh, or Creevy, County Dublin.
onlytheturningofacirculardoorwayofarch; whileinthewestgablethere was a window, as one side of it is plainly visible. A nondescript round tower stands at present, partly encroaching on the nave, and it is entered near the ground by a square-headed doorway. A little over this it is arched \vith a stone roof, while above there is a compartment, having small window opes, and these are crowned by a turretted battlement. This structure is a compara- tively modem one, erected within the present century to shelter persons guarding their deceased friends' remains from nocturnal aggressions of the resur- rectionists. The situation is a most superb one ; sheltered on the south, east, and west by the Dublin mountains, and rising on a steep knoll, over a rivulet
and that the
Tamlacht" adds " Dormitatio Itae et filiarum
of Dublin," pp. 794 to 797.
" The accompanying sketch of Cruagh or
Creevy, taken by the author in August, 1873, has been engraved by Mr. Gregor Grey, of Dublin.
Martyrology of See 7th day of January, Article ix.
CTioii\p^e) ; Carbrei. "
'
7 See D'Alton's " of the History
County
"
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 219
running towards the river Dodder in a deep valley, and towards the city of Dublin. From the graveyard a noble view of the metropolis, the vale of the Liffey, and far out to sea, may be obtained.
ArticleIII. —SaintsMauraandBritta,Martyrs. Itisremarkedby a great saint, that the soul may escape to God while the world passes away from our view. ^ The Bollandists have inserted notices of Saints Maura and Britta in their great work, at the 15th day of January. '' St. Gregory of Tours has treated about these holy virgins. 3 Saussay, in his supplement to the Gallic Martyrology, has set down their feast for this date. ^ But, as we have already observed at the previous day, a fuller notice must be reserved for another fes- tival of Saints Maura and Britta, also called Brigida, at the 13th of July.
Article IV. —St. Dla. rmaid, Priest. The true priest not alone offers the mysterious sacrifice of the new alliance ; but for the truth of heavenly doctrine and the liberty of God's holy Church, he is ready to offer himself as a living sacrifice, like his Divine Master. Diarmaid, priest, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal' as having a feast on this day. A similar entry occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh^' at the 15 th of January. Among the disciples of St. Patrick, a St. Diermitius is mentioned ;3 but he is called a Bishop of Dromensis, or Druim-choreo-thri, in Meath. He was the son of Restitutus and Darerca, the sister of St. Patrick. 4 By his illustrious uncle he had been set over the church already designated, and which had been founded by the great Apostle. s It seems to us St. Patrick's nephew, the bishop, St. Diermitius, must be distinguished from the present holy priest. The latter is said^ to have been brother to St. Evinus, the reputed author of the Tripar- tite Life of St. Patrick ; while his church is stated to have been Kilmackeon, near Sligo. Altogether, the exact identification of the present saint and his place appears to be yet a matter for speculation and further inquiry.
Article V. —St, Farannan, Abbot of Kildare. \Sevtnth Century. ']
Gentle, firm, and faithful, the holy superior of a religious community sympa- thizes with and becomes attached to the lowliest brother of his happy household. This pious abbot was bom probably in the earlier part of the seventh century. He appears to have succeeded St. Lochenius Menn, who died a. d. 694, in the
of Kildare The government Abbey. ' present
saint had — a short term of only
rule
;
for he is said to have died on the
of on which 15th January
day
his
Art. hi. —'St. Ambrose, "DeFugaSe- "
cap. viii.
' These notices are contained in four para-
graphs. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i,, XV. Januarii. Vita S. Mauras et Brittse, p. 10 1 8.
3 In his tract, "De Gloria Confessorum," cap. xviii.
xxiii. , p.
often intended to signify punishment to be endured in a place under earth. Not to mention many passages from Holy Scrip-
First,
in another of St. Ita's copy
says, regarding Christ,
terranean and " infemalis" is place; poena
A similar
is still retained in one of the prayers of the
'
Libera Domine ani- mas omnium fidelium defimctorum de pcenis
is dead alas My uncle, your father, ;
!
for his
transgres-
by the
name of
purgatory.
phrase
Mass for the Dead :
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 213
offerings this year, and then return once more to me. " They accordingly
obeyed her instructions, and on their visiting Ita again, she said : "Your father is now released from the pains of purgatory ; but he is yet without clothing, because he gave no garments to the poor, in Christ's name ;7 there- fore, give ye alms in clothing that he may be clad. " They again distributed gifts in the manner pointed out for another year. Then returning once more to their cousin, she said, "Your father now enjoys rest, through your alms and my prayers, but especially through God's mercy. Therefore, do you refrain from unlawful desires of the world and its concupiscence, for which your father has suffered. " Giving thanks to God, and to His servant, Ita, they returned to their own country. ^
One day, our saint desired some of her nuns to go forth from the
enclosure, and bring her word regarding two men, who were on their way to visithernunnery. Doingastheywereordered,thesenunsbroughtbackintel- ligence, that two brothers of the neighbourhood, well known to them, were
murder the other. " This event happened in accordance with the saint's pre-
diction, whereupon, the culprit was brought before the chieftain of Hy- Connaill, to receive judgment due to his crime. Being condemned to death, and considering the affliction into which his mother must be plunged by the double loss of her two sons, St. Ita resolved on exerting her influence with the chief, to effect a respite for the malefactor. This mediatorship she assumed, through the double motive of affording consolation to the parent of the unfortunate criminal, and of giving the fratricide an opportunity for doing penance. Thechieftainwasmovedbyourholyvirgin'sentreatiesonbehalf of this guilty young man, and he was restored to liberty. However, lest any damage should afterwards take place, through this extended clemency, the chief declared that to St. Ita must be imputed its occurrence. He recom- mended her, moreover, to induce the murderer to expiate his crime by prac- tising a rigorous course of penance. Ita returned for answer, that although his repentance might be deferred for a while, yet it must certainly take place ; and as she desired, that the criminal's repentance should rather be voluntary on his part than a result of coercion, the servant of God waited in patience and hope for his conversion. Although, for a time delayed, her expectations were finally crowned ; and her patience was amply rewarded by the total change of heart which tranquillized the mind of this unhappy man. 9
inferni, et de profundo lacu,' &c. I need the grave. " See " Ecclesiastical History of
a
grief shall shortly oppress me and them, for one of these brothers shall
coming. Fetching
deep sigh,
the abbess
said,
! woe,
to these
men,
not tell the reader that the i«;^r«Mj or in-
"
Ireland, vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sec. ii. , n. 11,
fernalibus in the now quoted passages do
not refer to the hell of the damned, out of
which the Church never expected any de-
liverance. This manner of speaking was
used in consequence of an opinion held by
many theologians, that not only the devils
and the damned, but likewise the souls in
a state of purgation are confined in subter-
raneous regions, yet with this difference,
that the former are kept in its lowermost
and deepest parts, while the place for the
latter, although contiguous to it, is supposed
to be higher up (See Bellarmin De Purga-
torio, lib. 2, cap. 6). But, as this place pp. 69, 70.
was still considered as under the earth, the name infernus, which signifies a lower re-
gion or tract, was often applied to it, in the same manner as it has been used also for
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
" Woe
pp. 86, 87.
^ " This means that, although he was freed
from the purgatorial sufferings, yet his soul was not as yet in a state fit for enjoying the beatific vision and that heavenly clothing, of which St. Paul says, 2 Cor. , v. 2: We groan, desiring to be clothed over with our habitation, which is from heaven. " Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sec. ii. , n. 12, p.
87. *"
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itae, cap. xxvi. ,
' See
nias," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxix. , p. 70.
Colgan's
214 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 15.
CHAPTER V.
VICTORY OBTAINED BY THE HY-CONNAILL CLAN THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF ST. ITA— HER MERCIFUL OFFICES TOWARDS A PENITENT—ST. ITA'S BODILY AFFLICTION— HER LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH—LOCAL AND GENERAL COMMEMORATION—HER INTIMACY WITH MANY IRISH SAINTS—CONCLUSION.
Sometime after these occurrences, a great war' was waged against the Hy- Connaillpeople,byhabitantsfromthewesternpartofMunster. TheHy- Connaill sept, being numerically inferior to their enemies, had recourse to St. Ita, who addressed her prayers to heaven, and to the adorable and undivided Trinity, that her clients might receive succour from above, in the unequal conflict, and from which, in all human probability, they could not hope to escape with success. A small army, they were able to muster, went forth with confidence, founded on the prayers and intercession of their saintly patron ; and, having encountered an overwhelming force opposed to them, they fought with desperate resolution, until victory finally inclined to their side. The enemy was routed with great slaughter ; and the sept of Hy- Connaill returned from the battle-field, full of gratitude to God and to their patron saint, for that glorious victory they obtained. It would appear, that St. Ita exhorted her people to do penance for their sins, before joining in battle array. But at least one among their number, although he promised repentance, did not redeem this pledge. Therefore our saint desired him to
be conducted to her presence. According to a description given by the abbess to her messengers, this man was found wounded after the battle, having being engaged in the foremost ranks. When brought before Ita, he was kindly received, and healed of his wounds through her intercession. Afterwards, he brought forth fruits worthy of penance, and departed to the rest of an immortal life. ^
Once upon a time, St. Ita said to her spiritual daughters, in a spirit of
prophecy :
" At this
moment one of our
has lost her soul
very
therefore, and inquire which one among us has become a prey to the ravening
wolf. " But they were unable to discover this offender. St. Ita ordered them
to appear collectively in her presence. Being questioned on the matter, all deniedtheirknowledgeorconsciousnessofthisimputedcrime. Thatperson who had sinned denied her guilt wath the rest. Then St. Ita told her, she had deeply offended God on that day ; and, because she had not confessed her crime, or repented its commission, she should be dismissed ^vith shame
and reproach. This guilty person, wandering about through many places, at lengthbecameaslaveorservanttoacertainmagician,inConnaught. The
Chap. v. —'This, in all probability, was the event thus recorded in O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
of Hy-Figente and the Corcoiche sept. The Hy-Figente derived their name from Fiach Figente, and they occupied that plain of
" The
battle of Cuilne, in which rtiany of the
184, 185.
mountain, in Kerry to the southern bank of the
Age
of The Christ, 546.
from Luachra
**
Corcoiche were slain through the prayers Shannon. See Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap.
of [St. ] Ita, of Cluain-Creadhail. " Mr. Ixxxi. , p. 381. The battle of Cuilne is
O'Donovan says, he was unable to identify Cuilne ; but of the Corcoiche, he remarks that they were a Ui-Fidhgente sept, located
placed five years later, in the " Annals of Ulster," than in those of the Four Masters,
" A. D. 551, Bellum Cuilne,
in the present county of Limerick, and in
the barony of Lower Connello. After the establishment of surnames, O'Macassy was chieftain over this sept. Seeidid. , nn. (i. k. ),
p. 184. O'Flaherty describes the country p. 70,
family
; go,
Munster, extending
We there read
in quo ceciderunt Corcu Oche Muman, ora- tionibus Itce Cluana. "
:
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- n\x," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxx. ,
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 215
abbess knowing her condition told her sisters in religion, that were she to regain her liberty once more, she should atone for past offences. Ita then
sent messengers to St. Brendan, to request his influence in obtaining from the KingofConnaughtfreedomforthiswretchedvassal. Herobjectwasatlength effected. This unfortunate creature and her daughter were sent back to the abbess,bySt. Brendan. Bothwerereceivedwithcompassion,andevenwith joy by our saint. They remained in Ita's nunnery ; the mother subjecting herselftoarigorouscourseofpenance. Afterwardssheperseveredinablame- less course of life, until the day of her death. 3
St. Ita is said to have suffered a great bodily affliction, which she carefully concealed from the knowledge of others. A sort of worm, called a Daol,^ preyed upon her side, and at last it grew to a large size. This continued for a long time, so that the holy woman suffered a continuous martyrdom.
"
Moreover, Cuimin of Coindeire states, in the poemS which begins, her cheek or her face to rest. Thus he says,
Patrick, of the city of Macha, loved ;" that for love of the Lord, she never laid down
" Mide loved great nursing,
Great humility without ambition ;
Her cheek on the pillow she never laid, From love of the Lord," &c.
Having now attained an extreme old age, the holy abbess called her daughters around her, and told them in a calm manner that the term of her
sojourn in life was nearly accomplished. Before this period, however, had arrived, St. Macnessius^ of Clonmacnoise despatched messengers to her with word that his predecessor, and the friend of our saint, had requested her to send some holy water. Having complied with this request, she desired the messengers to return, and that they should find her living ; but before their next arrival at Clonmacnoise, she declared that the Abbot Eneas should have departed this life. ? Shortly after such occurrence, she was seized wdth her last illness. No sooner had the news of her infirmity gone abroad, than many holy persons of both sexes flocked to her nunnery, expecting to witness the happy termination of her labours and virtues. ^ Before her departure, she invoked a blessing on the clergy and people of Hy-Connaill, who adopted her as their patron saint. There, with devout aspirations towards the Holy Trinity, her soul passed out of this world, to rejoice for ever before God's throne, in company with the saints and angels. 9
The body of our saint was deposited in that place she had chosen for her earthlyhabitation. AfterasolemncelebrationoftheholySacrificeofMass,^°
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
3 See
Colgan's
nise," XV. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxxi. , p. 70. The incidents related in this chap- ter seem only a more detailed account re- garding what we read in the fourteenth chapter of St. Ita's life.
< In a note at this place Dr. Todd says,
" The word Daol is explained a cockchafer, a leech. " Colgan renders it "Vermis. "
5 In a note l3r. Todd says, "This poem
His feast was on the kept
which is frequently quoted by our author,
has been printed with a translation by
Mr. Curry, in the late Rev. Matthew Kelly's
Calendar of Irish Saints, p. i6o. The niae," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. xxxii. , editor, however, does not state from what
manuscript he has copied. "
'°
This is an early instance of a Requiem Mass having been celebrated in the Irish Church.
*
of St. ^nguss or Eneas, Abbot of Clon-
This saint was the immediate successor
macnoise.
January.
^ It is yet a practice, in the primitive
mountainous and insular parts, where Celtic customs most prevail, for neighbours to as- semble in groups, when the death of an adult is expected in any particular house. For many days before the sick person's de- cease, they recite prayers in Irish for a happy departure.
"
^ See Colgan's xxxiii. , pp. 70, 71.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
13th See notices of him at that day.
of June.
^ See notices of him at the 20th day of
2i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
according to her previous directions, her sacred remains were committed to earth. The ancient author of her hfe assures us, that a great concourse of peoplewaspresentattheseoffices; whileinnumerablemiraclestookplaceat that time, and on future occasions, to the period when his interesting record ofheractshadbeencomposed. " St. Itadepartedthislifeonthe15thday of January. The different Martyrologies of ^ngus the Culdee," as also the Commentator on his works, Marianus O'Gorman, the Calendars of Tallagh,'3 Salisbury, and Donegal,'^ agree in assigning St. Ita's feast to that date. In like manner, the Circle of the Seasons has her commemorated.
'5 This saint is mentioned at the present day, in the anonymous list of Irish Saints published
by O'Sullivan Beare. '^ The year of her death has been generally assigned to A. D. 569. ^7 At Killeedy she has been constantly venerated. On the 15th of eachrecurringJanuary,thefaithfulof thisremoteparishbecomerejoicedand gladdened at the grandeur and solemnity of ceremonies prepared for them. They are invited to dilate their hearts, and to contemplate, not only the dazzling brilliancy of Him, in whom there is neither change nor shadow of alteration, but also the exceeding great honour of a saint once a pilgrim and sojourner here below, but now crowned with a diadem of unfading lustre. The author of her life remarks, that many of her actions were unrecorded by him ; of those he had given, some are omitted in the present narrative, and those in which her name occurs, conjointly with other saints, will be found distributed in different other pages of this work.
This holy virgin was formerly held in great veneration by our ancestors ; not alone on account of her own sanctity, but because of virtues implanted in those religious persons who were imder her direction and training. Be- sides her sister, St. Fina, and other pious women, Ita taught the principles of religion in early youth, to those holy confessors, the famous St. Brendan, styled the Navigator, on account of his seven years' voyage on the Atlantic, to St. Pulcherius, already mentioned in her life, and to St. Cuminens, Bishop of Clonfert. This holy woman was not only venerated in Cluain-Credhail, or KilladyChurch,andthroughoutthewholeterritoryofHy-Connaill; butlike- wise in a place called Rosmide, in her native country of the Desies. Also, the parish of Kilmeedy, in the barony of Upper Connello, in the county of
" the Church of Mide and of course it derived name ;"'^
Limerick, signifies
from the celebrated virgin of Kileedy. There are no ruins visible in this parish,'9 but the Protestant church appears to have been built within the old
" See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise,"XV. Januarii. VitaS. Itse,cap. xxxiii. , p. 71.
copy of the Tallagh Martyrology we read,
Ooi\micAcio1CAeA^uf•piuoi]\UTnCAi|\p|\e. 'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
16, 17. In the table appended, we are in- formed that there was a holiday to her in the parish of Cill-Ide,in the diocese of Limerick.
See ibid. , pp. 438, 429.
" The following extract from the Felire,
and its English translation, have been fur- nished by Professor O'Loouey :
A xtiiii. kl.
Vo^Ai-o mop n-ju^A h-^aLap CA]\Aif mof C|\oin ci\eT3An tn 5]\iAn b<in mutriAn
Ice cluAriA Ci\et)AiL
'^ At
A xviii. kl. "She endured much painful dis- ease
See HistoriaeCatholicseIbemieeCom- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49.
'^ At 569, we find the following record j
"St. Ite, virgin, of Cluain-Creadhail, died
p. 15. *® "
on the 15th of January, she was also called She loved the great heavy Mide. " And on this passage, Mr. O'Dono-
tertian fasts
The radiant sun of Munster's
women
Ite of Cluain Credail. "
'3Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. Likewise at this date, in the Franciscan
van remarks: "The churches called Kil- meedy, in Munster, are named after this virgin. " See"AnnalsoftheFourMasters," vol. i. , pp. 206, 207, and note (g), p. 206.
'^i^iHshCiUmit)e.
'»The "Liber Regalis Visitationis,"
January 15. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
^°
other in the south of Ireland, seem to places, especially
Many
have been dedicated to her memory.
graveyard.
Several of the Irish Saints, celebrated in our records, were her contem- poraries ; and in the relation of their actions, the virtues and acts of St. Ita are likewise commemorated. Thus was she intimate with the holy Abbot
"^^ Comgan,""^withSt. BrendantheNavigator, withSt. Luchtigemus,^3y/ithSt.
Lasreanus,^* not to mention others of her holy relatives,''5 and persons who have been noticed in the preceding pages. So great was her renown, that Ita
had been affectionately styled the Brigid of Munster. And justly was she so-called, for Ita continued in her own province the glorious promotion of female sanctification, which the wonder-v*-orking Abbess of Kildare had in- augurated for the whole of Ireland.
The holy woman Ita suffered a meritorious martyrdom for God ; in the sense, that she bore with great patience a bodily affliction in the most re- signed and exemplary spirit. She loved mortification and self-denial. She was the refuge and solace of sinners ; ever compassionate towards the erring,
and ever charitably disposed towards the poor. May her memory then be in
perpetual benediction among the lowly and humble, as among the high-born and penitent, who implore her intercession. May the inhabitants of her parish and district never forget her admirable character, and her constant patronage over them, that so they may pay her deserved tributes of affection and grateful reverence on every recurring day of her festival.
Article II. —St. Critan, Criotan, or Finncridan, of Craib- HAIGH, OR Crebee. To determine the age or place of this saint seems a matterofsomedifficulty,ifnotofactualimpossibility; becausesomanynames of saints^ agree with his, and so many denominations^ of places accord with the locality which has been assigned to him. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 a festival in honour of Finncridan of Craibhigh, is set down at the 15th of
prefix, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find simply entered, Critan, of Crebee. ^ The reader is referred to the notice of St. Dalua, of
or "
"
having reference to the colour of his hair or complexion. Without such a
January.
The
prefix
Finn,"
Fine," relating
to " seems as fairness,"
which places Kihueely, alias Kilmureely (for Kihneedy) in the Deanery of Rathkeale, reports the living as valueless.
i6th of September ; at the i6th of October ; at the i8th of November ; and at the 13th of December.
^°" ^ See Letters containing Information
Over one hundred places, having con-
Relative to the Antiquities of the County of Limerick, Collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. , pp. 163, 164.
nexion with Creevy, simply, or in composi- tion, are named among the Irish townlands.
Dr. P. W. Joyce writes to state, that Cruagh, near Killikee, county of Dublin, is the same as C|\AebAc, "a bushy" or "a branchy place. "
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. In
the Franciscan copy we read pnT)ch]MCAn
Ci\ibij;e.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 17. ^ At this word, as we learn in a note to the
family line, are tabulated with their genca-
fogies given in Colgan's "Appendix ad has added here in Roman characters, "Mar.
^' ''^
See his Acts at the 27th of February.
See his Life at the i6th of May.
^3 See notices of this saint at the 28th of
April.
^* See an account of him at the 25th day
of October.
=5 The Decies Saints, belonging to Ita's
Acta S. Ita;," cap. ii. , p. 73.
Art. II. — 'Thus besides the present saint,
(/. t'. . the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman) Adventus filiarum Carbrci (Addit M. Taml. Dormitatio ItcoK [read Itoe], ct filiarum Car-
venerated on this day, we have a St. Critan
er Criotan, commemorated at the 7lh of brei). " The meaning is, that Marianus
"
17th of May ; at the 25th of July ; at the the daughters of Carbrc" (cecc ingen caitd
February
;
one respectively at the nth and O'Gorman adds at this day,
the coming of
published "Martyrology,"amorereccnthand
2l8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
Dun-tighe-Bretan,^ for some allusion to the county of Dublin parish, known as Cruagh or Creevy. This seems to have been the site for an ancient reli- gious establishment from a remote period ; for in the year 1184, Prince John granted Cruagh, with its church, to the See of Dublin, and its subsequent
history is interesting. ? An old graveyard, lately enclosed, and by order of the poor-law authorities disused for interments, is to be seen, embowered with trees, growing around and within the area. ^ Within it stood the antique church, surrounded by the graves and tombs of the dead. It cannot be asserted, however, with any degree of certainty, that the present Creevy is the place specially connected with this saint's veneration. Still a few descrip-
tive particulars regarding it may prove interesting to the antiquarj'. The old church measured 34 feet in length interiorly, while it was less than 20 feet in breadth interiorly. At present only a few fragments remain. It was built of rough granite stones. In the fragments remaining the east wall shows
Ruins of Cruagh, or Creevy, County Dublin.
onlytheturningofacirculardoorwayofarch; whileinthewestgablethere was a window, as one side of it is plainly visible. A nondescript round tower stands at present, partly encroaching on the nave, and it is entered near the ground by a square-headed doorway. A little over this it is arched \vith a stone roof, while above there is a compartment, having small window opes, and these are crowned by a turretted battlement. This structure is a compara- tively modem one, erected within the present century to shelter persons guarding their deceased friends' remains from nocturnal aggressions of the resur- rectionists. The situation is a most superb one ; sheltered on the south, east, and west by the Dublin mountains, and rising on a steep knoll, over a rivulet
and that the
Tamlacht" adds " Dormitatio Itae et filiarum
of Dublin," pp. 794 to 797.
" The accompanying sketch of Cruagh or
Creevy, taken by the author in August, 1873, has been engraved by Mr. Gregor Grey, of Dublin.
Martyrology of See 7th day of January, Article ix.
CTioii\p^e) ; Carbrei. "
'
7 See D'Alton's " of the History
County
"
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 219
running towards the river Dodder in a deep valley, and towards the city of Dublin. From the graveyard a noble view of the metropolis, the vale of the Liffey, and far out to sea, may be obtained.
ArticleIII. —SaintsMauraandBritta,Martyrs. Itisremarkedby a great saint, that the soul may escape to God while the world passes away from our view. ^ The Bollandists have inserted notices of Saints Maura and Britta in their great work, at the 15th day of January. '' St. Gregory of Tours has treated about these holy virgins. 3 Saussay, in his supplement to the Gallic Martyrology, has set down their feast for this date. ^ But, as we have already observed at the previous day, a fuller notice must be reserved for another fes- tival of Saints Maura and Britta, also called Brigida, at the 13th of July.
Article IV. —St. Dla. rmaid, Priest. The true priest not alone offers the mysterious sacrifice of the new alliance ; but for the truth of heavenly doctrine and the liberty of God's holy Church, he is ready to offer himself as a living sacrifice, like his Divine Master. Diarmaid, priest, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal' as having a feast on this day. A similar entry occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh^' at the 15 th of January. Among the disciples of St. Patrick, a St. Diermitius is mentioned ;3 but he is called a Bishop of Dromensis, or Druim-choreo-thri, in Meath. He was the son of Restitutus and Darerca, the sister of St. Patrick. 4 By his illustrious uncle he had been set over the church already designated, and which had been founded by the great Apostle. s It seems to us St. Patrick's nephew, the bishop, St. Diermitius, must be distinguished from the present holy priest. The latter is said^ to have been brother to St. Evinus, the reputed author of the Tripar- tite Life of St. Patrick ; while his church is stated to have been Kilmackeon, near Sligo. Altogether, the exact identification of the present saint and his place appears to be yet a matter for speculation and further inquiry.
Article V. —St, Farannan, Abbot of Kildare. \Sevtnth Century. ']
Gentle, firm, and faithful, the holy superior of a religious community sympa- thizes with and becomes attached to the lowliest brother of his happy household. This pious abbot was bom probably in the earlier part of the seventh century. He appears to have succeeded St. Lochenius Menn, who died a. d. 694, in the
of Kildare The government Abbey. ' present
saint had — a short term of only
rule
;
for he is said to have died on the
of on which 15th January
day
his
Art. hi. —'St. Ambrose, "DeFugaSe- "
cap. viii.
' These notices are contained in four para-
graphs. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i,, XV. Januarii. Vita S. Mauras et Brittse, p. 10 1 8.
3 In his tract, "De Gloria Confessorum," cap. xviii.
xxiii. , p.
